Sleep Matters

09/28/2015

Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.
James M. Barrie

A Huffington Post article, "What We've Learned About Kids And Sleep In 2015" provided these observations:

Sleep is when the brain flushes out, which is especially critical for kids — during sleep the brain cleanses itself, essentially flushing out its own waste.
Uninterrupted nighttime rest is particularly vital for kids, because the growth hormone needed for tissue and muscle development is produced mainly overnight, especially from midnight to 6 a.m.
The National Sleep Foundation’s guidelines on how long children of different ages should snooze are clear: 10 to 13 hours per day for preschoolers, nine to 11 for kids between ages 6 and 13, and eight to 10 hours for teens.
Lack of sleep can lead to misdiagnoses of ADHD.
Sleep debt puts kids at higher risk for obesity and diabetes.
Sleep debt can make kids more likely to get sick.

Contributed by Kirsten Haugen

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